The affectionate, loving, and hard-working Vijay was born in Kerala – Mutholy, in 1943. Though baptised as Mathew, he changed his name to Vijayanand Marialayam in solidarity with the people he intended to work with. He entered the Society of Jesus to be a missionary in the then Goa-Poona Vice-Province. After the usual formation, he was ordained priest in Pune in 1972. He worked in the district of Ahmednagar: Shevgaon-Sangamner-Kopergaon. He catered to the pastoral care of the Catholic Nurses in Ahmednagar and was then appointed as diocesan Chaplain of the Catholic Nurses’ Guild. Later, Vijay found joy through Zen meditation and Vipasana, by giving retreats.
At Desur-Belgaum, Vijay conducted “Inner Freedom Retreats” based on the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises. He emphasised on the person’s life experiences, which helped people to reflect on their guilt-fear-anxiety and then to move towards forgiveness-healing-wholeness. These retreats liberated people from physical, mental and spiritual ailments. He helped them to overcome blocks and self-acceptance, and to look confidently towards a better future. He also demanded seriousness, hard work and openness from them. People were grateful to Vijay for transforming the negatives of their past, present and future, into positives for a richer and fuller living. These retreats made him popular in India and abroad. He conducted retreats in Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan. Vijay was missioned to the Xavier Retreat House in Baga – Goa, where he ministered to the people with enthusiasm.
On 15th June 2022, the Provincial granted Vijay the permission to donate his body after his death, to KLES hospital. After a brief illness, Vijay was taken by the Lord to His heavenly abode on 6th September 2022. We thank God for the gift of Fr. Vijay, and the works that he carried out for God’s Kingdom.
Joseph Cardozo, SJ
